Additional Security

Additional Security can also be used to borrow a larger loan amount, if the loan required on the primary security exceeds the maximum LTV acceptable by the lender.

Charge

This is a formal acknowledgement and safeguard of the lenders Bridging Loan advance. A notice will be entered at the land registry, in the name of the Bridging Loan lender. This will prevent the property from being refinanced or sold without the lender being repaid. Once the loan is repaid, the charge will be removed.

Closed Bridging Loans

Closed Bridging Loans are the least risky type of Bridging Loan and are usually for those who have already sold and exchanged contracts on their existing property and are waiting for completion but in the meantime they have seen a new property which they want to purchase. This type of Bridging Loan is of minimal risk to the lender so the best interest rates should be available.

Compounded Interest

Unlike mortgage finance, bridging loans do not normally require monthly payments. Each month during the agreed term that the loan remains outstanding or unpaid, a month’s interest will be added to the balance. Compounded interest is where interest is paid on interest, for example, after month 1, a month’s interest is added to the loan. The 2nd months interest is therefore calculated on the original loan amount plus the 1st months interest e.g.

After month 1 interest at 0.59% (£302.85) is added to the loan. The loan has now increased to £51,300 + £302.85 = £51,632.85. Interest after the 2nd month will be calculated on the new balance at 0.59% (£303.74). This compounding continues until the loan is repaid.

Daily Interest

Following the initial month, the interest on bridging loans is usually calculated on a daily basis. This means that if the loan is repaid or redeemed part way through a month, a full months interest is not due for that month but instead interest is payable on the amount of days in the month that the loan has been outstanding.

Exit Routes

Bridging Loans usually do not require monthly payments in the same manner as a mortgage or other more traditional finance method. Due to this, the lender will require, from the outset, a realistic and feasible method with which the Bridging Loan will be repaid. This is known as an exit route and the main vehicles used are sale of one or more security properties or refinancing.

FCA Regulated Bridging Loan

Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Regulated Bridging Loans are usually arranged on residential properties or properties where the borrower or an immediate member of the family lives, has lived, or intends to live in over 40% of the available floor space.

The FCA aim to make sure that financial markets work well so that consumers get a fair deal.
This means ensuring that:

the financial industry is run with integrity

firms provide consumers with appropriate products and services

consumers can trust that firms have their best interests at heart

Not all firms arranging bridging finance are FCA regulated.

First Charge Bridging Loans

The Bridging Loan lender will enter a charge onto the land registry title of the property or properties being used for the loan security. This charge will ensure that the security cannot be sold or refinanced without the bridging loan monies being repaid from the proceeds. Once repaid, the charge will be removed.

A first charge Bridging Loan means that no other charges were showing at Land Registry on the security at the time that the loan was arranged.

Gross Bridging Loan

The Gross Bridging Loan is the figure calculated by adding the Net Bridging Loan to any arrangement fees added plus interest payable if the loan was to run for the full term i.e.

Net Bridging Loan to client:

£50,000

Brokers fee:

£0

Arrangement fee @ 2%:

£1,000

Assessment fee:

£295

Telegraphic Transfer fee:

£35

12 months Interest @ 0.59%:

£3,754.44

Gross Bridging Loan:

£55,084.44

The Net Bridging Loan is the loan without any fees or interest added.

Heavy Refurbishment Bridging Loans

Heavy refurbishment bridging finance is normally arranged on properties requiring structural alteration and/or planning permission or permitted development is needed for the required works. Interest rates tend to be slightly higher on this type of product to reflect the additional work and risk adopted by the lender.

Interest Generated

Monthly payments are not required to reduce the size of the bridging loan. Instead, the loan is arranged for a set period and for each month that the loan remains unpaid during the agreed term, a months’ worth of interest is generated which increases the size of the loan outstanding.

Interest Only

Interest only is a repayment term used to describe a loan that does not require monthly payments to incorporate an amount to reduce the initially amount borrowed. With Bridging Finance, interest is calculated on the loan amount whilst it is outstanding but no monthly payments are made. In this way the initially borrowed loan amount never reduces but instead increases i.e.

Loan amount:

£300,000

Monthly interested generated @ 0.59%:

£1,770

Mortgages are a long term finance and normally repaid on a capital and interest repayment basis throughout the term of say 25 years. This means that each month a payment is required which includes the interest say £1,770 + part of the capital borrowed. With this payment route, over the set period the initially borrowed loan amount will reduce particularly in the latter term.

Bridging Loans are short term options and are always arranged on an interest only basis as a capital & interest format would be too expensive and impractical.

Loan to Value (LTV)

The LTV is determined by a percentage of the total amount of the loans secured on a property compared with the value of the security property/properties i.e.

Security value:

£300,000

Outstanding mortgage:

£100,000

Loan required:

£50,000

£100,000 + £50,000 (£150,000) / £300,000:

50% LTV

With bridging finance, the LTV of the gross loan often dictates the interest rate to be charged and the maximum loan available.

Net Bridging Loan

The Net Bridging Loan is the loan amount actually required without any arrangement fees or interest added i.e.

Net Bridging Loan to client:

£50,000

Arrangement fee @ 2%:

£1,000

Assessment fee:

£295

Telegraphic Transfer fee:

£35

12 months Interest @ 0.59%:

£3,754.44

Gross Bridging Loan

£55,084.44

Open Bridging Loans

Open Bridging Loans are Bridging Loans where the exit is not guaranteed. A typical example of this would be when an applicant has found their dream property but have yet to sell or market their existing property.

Retained Interest

Unlike mortgage finance, bridging loans do not normally require monthly payments. Although different lenders have slightly different ways of calculating and adopting interest, the bulk of cases are arranged using a generic manner called retained interest. In this situation, the net loan amount required is forwarded to the applicant on completion of the loan. All fees associated with the arrangement are withheld by the lender plus a notional amount to cover the interest that would be payable should the bridging Loan run for the full term listed. The bridging loan requires repayment prior to or at the end of the agreed term and the redemption statement from the lender will list, example:

Net Loan to the applicant:

£50,000

2% lenders fee:

£1,000

Assessment fee:

£295

Direct Debit:

£35

Redemption deed release fee:

£120

6 months retained interest @ 0.59% – 6 x £307.35:

£1,844.10

Interest is usually calculated on a daily basis following the 1st month however the exact calculation method will be listed on the offer.

Total to redeem the loan would therefore be – £53,294.10

If the term is set for 12 months and repaid any time after the 1st month, then No exit penalties will be applicable and interest is only paid for the time that the loan is outstanding i.e. 1 month.

Second or additional charge Bridging Loans

On occasions it may not be financial advantageous for a borrower, to have a first charge Bridging Loan. An exempt of this could be where a customer has a particularly good 1st charge mortgage which does not require repayment or if additional borrowing is required for a short period of time prior to a quick repayment and return to the original position etc.

A 2nd charge Bridging Loan will rank in authority behind a 1st charge loan so for instance in the unlikely event that a property is repossessed, any proceeds from a subsequent sale will firstly be allocated towards the 1st charge lender. The 2nd charge lender will get the next slice of available funds. To enable a second charge bridging loan to be activated, the bridging loan lender will usually need to obtain consent from the 1st charge lender.

Security

Security is the term used for whatever land or property the lender secures the Bridging Loan charge against.

Standard Bridging/Light Refurbishment Bridging

Standard and light refurbishment bridging finance attracts premium interest rates. This type of bridging finance is arranged on properties in pristine condition to those requiring cosmetic upgrades, such as a new kitchen, bathroom and redecoration etc.

Term

The term of a bridging loan is the time, usually calculated in months, for which the loan is arranged. Although the term is arranged for a set period, say 12 months, the loan can be repaid at any time prior to the end of the 12 months, without penalty and by only paying interest for the time that the loan has been outstanding, not for the full term.

Unregulated Bridging Loan

Unregulated Bridging Loans are usually arranged on investment properties or properties where the borrower or an immediate member of the borrower’s family does not live, has never lived and/or does not intent to live in more than 40% of the available floor space. The only exceptions would be a 2nd charge on a borrower’s property if it is for over £25,000 and if it is to be used for business purposes.

Asset

The term “asset” refers to any item of worth that can be used as security for a loan. Assets can be anything ranging from a piece of real estate, either residential or commercial, an expensive piece of machinery or equipment, or even a brand name. Basically, an asset is anything of value that can be used as collateral.

Asset Turnover

Asset turnover refers to the amount of profit a given set of assets is able to generate in relation to their initial cost.

Bridging Loan

A short-term borrowing product that is designed to bridge a financial gap. For example, if you need to raise the funds to finance the purchase a property whilst awaiting the outcome of another property sale then a bridging loan can cover this cost. Unlike most other borrowing products, bridging loans are repaid in full at the end of the loan term along with any additional costs.

Bridging Loan Calculator

Many bridging loan providers are now offering bridging loan calculators as an online tool that can be used to work out the cost of borrowing over a given time frame. You simply enter the amount you want to borrow, along with the monthly interest rate and administration costs and the bridge loan calculator returns the relevant figures.

Commercial Bridging Loan

Commercial bridging loans are short term borrowing products that are designed for businesses that are experiencing temporary cash flow issues. However, whereas the vast majority of bridging products available to residential homeowners are financially regulated by the FCA, commercial finance products are not. With this in mind, it is important to realize that a greater percentage of bridging loan providers offer unregulated products in comparison to those who do not, although most lenders offer both loan types. For this reason, it is important that the borrower reads all the terms and conditions involved with commercial bridging loans as they are not covered in the same way as a private borrower would be. Commercial bridging finance can be used for all manner of business financing such as the repayment of urgent debts, tax bills and for expansion purposes.

Current Assets

Any assets that can be sold within a year are referred to as current borrowing assets and these can include expensive machinery, vehicles and property, although other asset types could just as easily be used as security depending on the borrower’s needs.

Development Finance

Most bridging loans are secured for a period lasting between 1 month and a year – although sometimes terms can be agreed with the lender that covers a period of 2 years. On the other hand, development finance can be secured up to 36 months and the facility is typically released in increments – normally as different stages of the development project are realised. Development finance can be used by any developer who has a clearly defined exit strategy in place who is also willing to invest their own funds in a development whilst finding themselves’ unable to finance the project in full.

Goodwill

If funds are released or repaid in relation to a debt that exceeds the net value of a project at a given time, then this is known as a goodwill payment.

Mezzanine Finance

If a developer is responsible for completing a project that will cost £1,000,000 and they are willing to invest £200,000 of their own funds whilst their principle lender is also willing to contribute £500,000 towards the said project, a financial gap of £300,000 will exist. Mezzanine finance refers any facility that grants the applicant this shortfall until the project is completed.

Secured Loan

If you need to borrow funds that are secured against a particular asset then this is known as secured finance or a secured loan. As you are providing the lender with a valuable asset that serves as security, the borrowing rates will often be much more affordable and the repayment terms will also be more forgiving as a result of the loan being secured against the collateral being offered.

National House Building Council or NHBC

The National House Building Council is the UK’s largest provider of new home warranties. The aim of this organization is to provide a set list of improved building standards which must be adhered to in order to inspire additional confidence in homebuyers seeking to purchase a new build property.

NHBC Certificate

An NHCB Certificate is a specific document that affords the homebuyer additional rights should the property they purchase fall short in terms of building faults that arise in the first 10 years of buying that property following completed construction. The actual terms, limitations and exclusions are laid out in the policy document.

Credit Search

When a lender performs a background check on a borrower’s finances using the services of a reference agency, this is known as a credit search. If you have ever defaulted on a loan agreement in the past, or you have not managed to pay your monthly bills in time, this information will be recorded and will be visible when the credit search has been performed.

Soft Search

Whereas a standard credit search will be recorded on your credit file, a soft search will not. Soft searches are useful in that they enable the lender to offer you a competitive quote without any detrimental effect on your normal credit file. When you apply for a loan via UK Property Finance, we will only perform a soft search in the first instance.

Click

Whenever a lender offers a borrowing product, they are required by law to disclose the APR figure, which shows the cost of borrowing over a 12 month time frame. The Click refers to the APR of a product, plus any additional borrowing costs covering the arrangement fees and any other charges added to the APR. This gives you a better idea on the overall cost of borrowing.

Certificate of Existence / Good Standing

If you are trying to raise additional capital as a business loan, the lender will want to know that your company actually exists and has not been taken of the register. The certificate of existence or good standing is a valuable tool in that it shows the lender that your business is still trading and that your annual accounts are up to date.

CCJs or County Court Judgements

A Country Court Judgement, or CCJ, is an official notice that shows a debtor is not up to date with their repayments. These legal judgements will remain on a creditors’ record for a period of 6 years and they have a negative effect on the borrower’s credit rating.

Credit Rating / Score

When a lender is deciding whether a borrower is a liability or a worthy investment, they will typically perform a credit check which returns the borrower’s credit rating or credit score. The information provided in this report is useful in that it gives the lender a reliable means of identifying any risks in terms of the loan repayment not being made on time.

Credit Reference Agency

A credit reference agency is any company that can provide an independent report on an applicant’s individual borrowing history. The information they provide is used to work out how reliable a borrower is in terms of their ability to repay and their attitude towards repayment.

Debt Consolidation

A debt consolidation loan is a secured borrowing product that is designed to reduce a borrower’s repayments on a number of smaller debts. Debt consolidation products typically provide lower interest charges and extended repayment periods which are far more manageable than a borrower’s existing outgoings.

ERC, or Early Repayment Charges

If you want to settle the outstanding balance on a loan early, then this is known as an early repayment charge – or an ERC.

Guarantor Loan

A guarantor loan is a used for borrowing that is intended for those who are have insufficient equity or security to satisfy the lending criteria required by a finance provider. These products require a third party to act as a guarantor should you be unable to make repayments yourself.

Indemnity Policy

An indemnity policy is an insurance policy that is designed to cover any costs that may arise owing to a defect that has been previously stated in a property’s title which may result in a financial loss. For example, if a builder stated that no further improvements could be made to a property without his permission yet that builder had died in the 1950s and this served as an objection to further works being carried out on a property, then the indemnity policy might serve as a contradiction towards such works being executed. Policies such as these are normally taken out as a one off agreement that serves throughout the entire life of a building’s existence.

Offshore Company

Any company that is registered outside of the confines of the UK is typically referred to as an offshore company. In most cases, offshore companies are formed as a means of the proprietor being able to avoid tax commitments and other costs that could be avoided if the business was registered overseas.

Personal Loan

If you are looking to borrow funds that amount to less than £25,000 and your credit rating is exemplary, you might be approved for a personal loan. Such products are ideal when a borrower is unable to provide security in the form of a property asset.

Self Invested Personal Pension (SIPP)

A SIPP, or Self Invested Personal Pension, is a government approved pension plan that enables the subject to choose the location where their funds are invested. SIPPs are typically approved by HM Revenue and Customs and a limit is imposed as to how much the individual is allowed to pay into the fund.

Prohibition Notice

If a property poses a risk of serious damage to a third party, the local authority may serve what is known as a Prohibition Notice. Such a notice will take immediate effect and the owner will need to appropriate action quickly in order to get the notice lifted or reversed.